Nowadays, the SNS (Social Networking System) became a common source of news where individuals, organizations and advertisers flood the internet with current events. Users of SNS can easily acquire latest information without having to access news sources. I believe there are both positive and negative aspects to this phenomenon. Individuals can definitely be more informed about what's going on around their circumstances or even the world in general. News and current event literacy is something to be encouraged and promoted, but the problem arises at the fact that news from SNS are not always accurate and may give individuals the wrong idea. Reading a properly written article by reporters and journalists are certainly different from uneducated posts from individuals who crave attention.
A great example of misinterpreted news giving individuals wrong ideas would be the current Ebola crisis. For the past several months, news about the Ebola virus, whether positive or negative, have flooded the internet. Starting from the first outbreak of Ebola in Africa to the latest news of a doctor with Ebola roaming about the streets of New York City, news regarding Ebola has kept individuals at their toes. Many Social Network Systems, representatively Facebook, were flooded with posts, news and opinions about the Ebola outbreak - everything including what the disease is, what the symptoms are, who's infected, how it is transmitted, and how individuals are exposed. People in the Emory community, including myself, were especially curious about the Ebola and its status. When doctors in Africa with Ebola were transported to the United States (specifically Atlanta, Georgia, Emory University), there were mixed responses. Some felt highly concerned and insecure that the virus came a step closer to their doorsteps, and some felt proud at the fact that Emory was responsible for caring and treating the patients. About a week ago, when the Ebola-inflicted patient from Houston came in, tens and hundreds of people, students, workers, reporters and camera-men, stood outside of the Emory University Hospital and the Clifton Road to take a glimpse of what is going on. Soon after the patient passed by, people uploaded videos and photos of the scene on Facebook and gave a significant number of people a false alarm of what really happened. The ambulance that carried the patient was escorted by a long line of police cars and motorcycles, and it seemed to me that they were extremely concerned about the Ebola virus leaking out. In other words, there is no necessity for such a false alarm.
The case of the physician in New York City is very similar. Of course people should be concerned when someone with Ebola is walking around the streets, eating at restaurants, and riding the city subway. However, individuals should acquire news from proper news sources and not Facebook. As a person very concerned and curious about the incident, I have read several articles that dealt with the issue. The conclusion is that it is highly unlikely that the physician may have spread the Ebola as the disease does not transfer through the air. According to De Blasio, the mayor of New York, "Ebola is very difficult to contract. Being on the same subway car of living near someone with Ebola does not put anyone at risk." It would be unwise to completely trust in what the media is feeding, but at the same time it is unnecessary to rely on Facebook to determine what's right and what's wrong.
A great example of misinterpreted news giving individuals wrong ideas would be the current Ebola crisis. For the past several months, news about the Ebola virus, whether positive or negative, have flooded the internet. Starting from the first outbreak of Ebola in Africa to the latest news of a doctor with Ebola roaming about the streets of New York City, news regarding Ebola has kept individuals at their toes. Many Social Network Systems, representatively Facebook, were flooded with posts, news and opinions about the Ebola outbreak - everything including what the disease is, what the symptoms are, who's infected, how it is transmitted, and how individuals are exposed. People in the Emory community, including myself, were especially curious about the Ebola and its status. When doctors in Africa with Ebola were transported to the United States (specifically Atlanta, Georgia, Emory University), there were mixed responses. Some felt highly concerned and insecure that the virus came a step closer to their doorsteps, and some felt proud at the fact that Emory was responsible for caring and treating the patients. About a week ago, when the Ebola-inflicted patient from Houston came in, tens and hundreds of people, students, workers, reporters and camera-men, stood outside of the Emory University Hospital and the Clifton Road to take a glimpse of what is going on. Soon after the patient passed by, people uploaded videos and photos of the scene on Facebook and gave a significant number of people a false alarm of what really happened. The ambulance that carried the patient was escorted by a long line of police cars and motorcycles, and it seemed to me that they were extremely concerned about the Ebola virus leaking out. In other words, there is no necessity for such a false alarm.
The case of the physician in New York City is very similar. Of course people should be concerned when someone with Ebola is walking around the streets, eating at restaurants, and riding the city subway. However, individuals should acquire news from proper news sources and not Facebook. As a person very concerned and curious about the incident, I have read several articles that dealt with the issue. The conclusion is that it is highly unlikely that the physician may have spread the Ebola as the disease does not transfer through the air. According to De Blasio, the mayor of New York, "Ebola is very difficult to contract. Being on the same subway car of living near someone with Ebola does not put anyone at risk." It would be unwise to completely trust in what the media is feeding, but at the same time it is unnecessary to rely on Facebook to determine what's right and what's wrong.